Ragamuffin Loyal crew were not defeatist about the gap between themselves and the race leader.

"This time last year they were 25 miles in front," said Ragamuffin Loyal crew member Andrew Crowe.

He reported that the boat had a couple of minor gear failures, but that they had been fixed.

Crowe said octogenarian skipper Syd Fischer was on deck cracking the whip.

Both Wild Oats and Ragamuffin Loyal had some minor problems earlier in the day. Wild Oats sustained minor damage to its daggerboard, while Ragamuffin Loyal reported minor gear faults.

Both problems have since been fixed.

War of words continues

As the race continued, so did the verbal battle between Cruising Yacht Club of Australia commodore Piggott and Grant Wharington, the skipper of Wild Thing, which was disqualified from the race at the last minute on Boxing Day.

Piggott told ABC News Breakfast that Wharington had been responsible for the removal of his boat from the race, because he had not provided the correct paperwork outlining modifications made to the boat in time for officials.

"There is no conspiracy, this club has done everything to assist Mr Wharington," he said.

Piggott said that organisers required signoff from a naval architect and a builder, stating that modifications made were done to meet ABS standards.

"That document was not given to us in an acceptable form within the time limit," he said.

Piggott said the original deadline had been extended to three hours from the race start, but he said Wharington had been unable to provide the correct documentation in time.